COLUMBIA, S.C. — The North town square in Orangeburg was the site of a heartfelt memorial walk and service on Saturday morning, as the family and friends of Winston Hunter gathered to remember his life and call for an end to gun violence.
Winston, only a child, lost his life one year ago when a stray bullet from a drive-by shooting struck him while he was inside his home on May 13, 2022.
Courtney Hunter, Winston's mother, spoke lovingly of her son.
"Winston was full of joy. Winston had an old soul in a little body, he was very family oriented, he love to have fun, he loved school," she said.
Despite the passage of time, Courtney acknowledged that the family is still grappling with the tragedy. Each day is a challenge, but they strive to navigate through by asking themselves, "What would Winston do?"
"Just trying to get through the day, when those days seem to get long, I start taking it moment by moment just for me to get through the day so this year has just been one big emotional roller coaster," she said.
To honor Winston's memory and advocate for change, Courtney joined forces with members of the Orangeburg community, law enforcement officials, and other families affected by gun violence. Together, they organized a violence prevention parade and memorial service.
The event began with a vibrant parade, drawing attention to the urgent need for action against gun violence. The parade culminated in a gathering at the North town square, where emotions ran high as community members spoke openly about their pain and shared resolutions to combat the gun violence epidemic that has hit Orangeburg County particularly hard.
Courtney Hunter expressed her gratitude for the support shown by the community, acknowledging that although Winston is no longer physically present, his memory remains vibrant.
"We definitely want to keep him going, keep his name alive," she said. "We don't want his name, his life, to be in vain.
Among those in attendance was Orangeburg Sheriff Leroy Ravenell, who vividly remembered the night Winston lost his life and the profound impact it had on his deputies.
He said Saturday's event was one step in solving an ongoing crisis.
"A majority of our gun violence right now is in our neighborhoods, in our communities," Ravenell said. "So, an event like this brings it back home where the gun violence is really happening. It's important to get the word out."
Courtney said she still prays and talks to Winston on a daily basis and knows he's proud of all the work they're doing.
"He's saying, 'Go mama, go mama go mama.' He's like, 'My dream is coming true day by day,'" she said. "I can see him now, he's rooting me on. I can just see him up there dancing and rooting me on."